Offaly TD says Ceann Comhairle faced "bullying and intimidation" in Dáil
Offaly TD Carol Nolan has expressed confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, who she said was subjected to a "coordinated" and "malicious" campaign of "bullying and overt intimidation" in the Dáil yesterday (Tuesday).
The ongoing row over speaking rights led to further chaotic scenes in the national parliament yesterday, as a Government vote on changes to the Dáil standing orders was passed amid uproar from the opposition.
Deputy Nolan said she voted in support of the Government proposal because it would allow her to access guaranteed speaking rights.
"My primary purpose in joining the Regional Group was to secure speaking rights to enable my effective representation of the people of Offaly," she told the Offaly Independent.
"Yesterday, I voted to support a proposal that has enabled me to access guaranteed speaking rights. In my assessment this was the only course open to me if I did not want to find myself in a position of having no meaningful platform from which to speak on a consistent basis."
At the time of writing, it's expected that the opposition will table a motion of no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle later this week, and that the matter will be put to a vote next week.
Deputy Nolan strongly criticised the treatment of the Ceann Comhairle in the Dáil yesterday. The ex-Sinn Féin TD said male members of her former party were at the forefront of the attacks on Verona Murphy from the opposition benches.
"I have confidence in (the Ceann Comhairle) to effectively dispense her obligation to safeguard the rights of all members of the House," she said.
"I thought the way that Verona Murphy was treated yesterday was nothing short of bullying and overt intimidation.
"It was a coordinated campaign of malicious, ignorant and boorish barracking, led in the main by male Sinn Fein TDs," she commented.
"I myself - along with Deputy Mattie McGrath - was subjected to vicious name calling from the main opposition party members when I sought to ensure that my vote was correctly noted after a technical mix-up during the voting process.
"What woman will want to enter politics when they can see this kind of behaviour being directed at our first female Ceann Comhairle?
"The politics of personal attack is now being given free rein in the Dáil. There is plenty of room for robust debate, but what we are witnessing is not robust. It is just plain rudeness. It is not professional. It is not what people expect of their elected TDs.
"I have always maintained that I will assess each proposal or policy put before me on its own merits and the value it represents for the people of Offaly, and not on the political alignment of the person proposing it.
"That is the kind of mature independent politics I favour where the interest of my constituents and the good of the country is given primacy over an uncritical adherence to party loyalty," Deputy Nolan concluded.
At the time of writing, RTE News was reporting that the Government was likely to back Verona Murphy should a 'no confidence' motion from the opposition be put to a vote next week.